
aass_LliA. 
Book SAA. 



/ 



* 
THE CHRISTIAN PATRIOT ENCOURAGED. 



DISCOURSE, 

J££± 



DELIVERED BEFORE THE 



FIRST PARISH IN HINGHAM, 



ON 



FAST DAY, 

April 8, 1813. 



BY JOSEPH RK HARDSON, A.M. 



BOSTON : 

PUBLISHED BY JOSHUA BELCHER. 

1813. 



3^4 



ir^a 



TO THE READER. 

This discourse was not originally designed for the press, and 
is submitted for publication as it was delivered. 






FAST DISCOURSE. 



Isaiah liv. 17. 

" No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper ; and 
every tongue that shall rise against thee m judgment ihou shalt 
condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and 
their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord." 

We have assembled this day to pay a voluntary 
tribute of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. As we 
revere the memory and the good old paths of our 
ancestors, we take sacred pleasure in conforming to 
their custom of observing a day of fasting. Would 
to heaven we may appear this day before the holy 
altar with hearts glowing with the same zeal lor the 
cause of our country. The love of true liberty con- 
stituted an essential part of their religion. 

A voluntary consecration of a day to God for pur- 
poses of religious homage by the citizens of a State 
is always interesting to the pious mind. No offer- 
ings can be so grateful to the sight of heaven, as 
those of a free and volunlarv heart. 



The present state of our country makes this occa- 
sion unspeakably more interesting and solemn than 
usual. We are constrained by motives, the most 
powerful that mi>rtals can feel, to refer our cause to 
God, and to ask counsel from on high. 

But may we not apply to ourselves these consoling 
words of thine, O God, to thy chosen people ? " For 
a small moment have I forsaken thee ; but with srreat 
mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid 
my face from thee for a moment ; but with everlast- 
ing kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the 
Lord thy Redeemer." 

In the midst of our fasting and humiliation, these 
consoling words of the text revive our hearts ; " No 
weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper ; 
and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judg- 
ment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of 
the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is 
of me, saith the Lord." 

This promise to the ancient people of God was in 
a general sense fulfilled. It had more perfect refer- 
ence to their cause, than to them as a community. 
The people as a community, although favorites of 
heaven, were visited with many reverses and afBic- 
tions. Their enemies distressed them, but did not 
so far prosper as to accomplish their designs. 

" Why," saith David referring to the same point, 
" why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine 
a vain thing ? The kings of the earth set themselves, 



and the rulers take counsel to.t^^cthcr against the 
Lord, and ap^ainst his anointed, saying. Ltt us break 
their bands asunder, and cast away their cords irom 
us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh ; the 
Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he 
speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his 
sore displeasure." 

The enemies of a righteous cause will sometimes 
seem to make progress. But they rise as the maniac 
climbs the summit of some stupendous precipice, and 
casts himself down in anguish and despair b^low the 
reach of hope. Their glittering weapons will appear 
so formed as to menace destruction ; but in a mo- 
ment they are broken small as the dust. And even 
the tongue that rose against the righteous cause, 
divine justice will condemn. The heritage of the 
servants of the Lord will be maintained as sacred, 
shielded by the arm of Omnipotence, because their 
righteousness is according to his pleasure. 

The principal object of this discourse will be 
to bring into view the causes we have for humiliation, 
and to shew that no weapon formed against us has 
prospered, and that there are many reasons to believe 
that God is on the side of our country. 

Ina general view we everhave cause to humble our- 
selves under the mighty hand of God. The ingrati- 
tude, the neglect, the disobedience, of which we are 
frequently guilty, cannot recur to the ingenuous mind 
without piercing the heart with many painful retlec- 



tions. That omniscient eye thiit has never lost sight 
of us, for a single instant of our existence, must have 
marked unnumbered frailties and sins, which, if re- 
collection should bring them clearly into view, in all 
their turpitude, would draw tears of remorse from 
the most unfeeling heart. 

This day, we trust, God waits upon us to listen 
to our confessions, and to accept our contrition. 
May our humiliation before his throne, receive 
some reviving token of grace, which like a band 
of love shall bind our heart to the honour of his 
cause, and be remembered with everlasting gratitude. 

In the course of the last year our State has been 
visited with some tokens of a frowning providence. 
There has not been so great complaint on account 
of the scarcity of bread for many years. This judg- 
ment has fallen upon our State with great weight. 
This judgment must be for some other cause than 
for having taken an active part in the war in which 
the country is engaged. As a State, no one in the 
Union has more cautiously avoided all participation 
in the war, yet this State lies under a heavy judg- 
ment, more severe than has been, by an immediate 
providence, inflicted on any other. 

Some parts of this State have been visited by a 
very alarming and mortal sickness. Has this taken 
place on account of prosecuting the war, or for our 
strange love of w hat is called peace "? These to my 



mind are very solemn tokens, uliir.li require the 
consideration of an honest conseicnce. 

I beHeve there is no State in the Union more dis- 
tracted and afflicted with pohiical and religious dis- 
sensions. An extremely rancorous and bitter spirit 
prevails, that causes great unhappincss, as it commits 
many wrongs. We have many institutions of pro- 
fessed piety and charity. But I fear their influence, 
as they are employed in many instances, serves more 
to destroy than promote the interests of true virtue 
and religion. 

It is a cause of deep regret to every friend to his 
country that a spirit of disunion and of opposition to 
the general government has brought already so much 
ill success and disgrace. It emboldens the traitor 
when he sees a numerous class of his fellow-citizens 
ready to welcome him to their bosoms. The sol- 
dier's bravery sinks, when discountenanced and 
betrayed by his own countrymen. 

The people constitute the nerves and the strong 
arms of the government. The strongest arm of the 
Union is palsied by disaffection or turned to fight 
even against its own body. Our enemy and the 
savage tribes are combined in a common league, and 
had caused American i^lood to flow, long before the 
declaration of war. The prospect of taking advan- 
tage of our divisions has raised the courage and 
roused the malice of our adversaries. Our country 
is engaged with a foe who abandons humanity, and 



8 

the most sacred laws of war among civilized nations. 
That such depravity reii^ns in the hearts of human 
beings, and even in those who boast of being civil- 
ized and christianized, is a most humiliating and 
melancholy thought. 

It is a subject of deepest humiliation to every 
heart that loves the cause of Christ, that a nation of 
high boasted pretensions to religion, should counte- 
nance every species of injustice, oppression, and 
crucltv. Such conduct does not in fact injure or 
destroy the real merits of Christianity, but it is taken, 
by those who reason superficially, as an occasion to 
reproach religion. That kind of religion which 
wears on its front the emblems of malignant and 
haughty pride, of deception and piracy, of wanton 
barbarity, and of every crime that can blacken the 
catalogue of human depravity ; that kind of religion 
is to be execrated unspeakably more than avowed 
infidelity. Hypocrisy, and not Christianity, is charge- 
able with this enormous guilt, whose countenance 
bears all the marks that can excite horror. But this 
character belongs rather to the government than to 
the people of Gre:.t Britain, because the government 
tolerate or do not punish the crimes I have mention- 
ed. Yet there is no other wav to correct the gov- 
crnment of that nation than by chastising its subjects. 

Great exertions have been made to alienate the 
people of this country from their government by in- 
culcating the idea that there is no jusliiiablc cause 



for the present war. If I believed this I should 
deeply deplore the war, and blame those who had 
waged it. The question is very important to the 
country and to every individual, especially to those 
who are in stations of responsibility. If I could have 
any doubts upon the subject, I would say nothing 
about it. But impressed as I am that the welfare of 
the country is at stake, that my own safety and hap- 
piness are as much concerned as those of any other 
man, and that I am equally bouwd with others to 
maintain the rights that God has been i)leased to 
grant me, I am impelled by a sense of duty to ex- 
press my mind on this occasion. I therefore justify 
my country in the war, for the following reasons. 

We have, as a nation, suffered great wrong from 
the enemy for a number of years, and have with 
great patience and forbearance laboured to persuade 
the enemy to cease from violating our rights. Rut 
instead of yielding to our entreaties and remon- 
strances, they have multiplied their aggressions, 
until no prospect of their termination remained. 

The wrongs they have committed have been the 
most outrageous. To persist in taking unjustly 
from a nation their property, is universally allowed 
to be justifiable cause of war. But to tear the citi- 
zens from their peaceable employment, and to carry 
tJicm into captivity and slavery, to groan under the* 
lash of tyrants, to be subject to every species of cru- 
elty to force them to abandon tluii- own country, U) 
2 



10 

be compelled to fight against tlieir brethren, and to 
be liable to suffer death to avoid a service to which 
they never freely consented, and which, being born 
free, they can never cease to hate, these are enormi- 
ties which I cannot consent that my fellow-citizens 
should suffer. 

As christians, as friends to the rights of mankind, 
of humanity, and of every thing sacred, we cannot 
endure such things. 

The conduct of many speaks this language ; that 
the rights of seamen are not worth contending for. 
How came they to be doomed to a lower and more 
wretched grade than the rest of the human race ? 
Upon what principles of religion and humanity are 
they to be abandoned by their country, to fall sacri- 
fices to the rapacity of foreign nations ? All christians, 
and christian ministers especially, ought to be friends 
to the rights of every class of the people. I will 
plead for those who are now in slavery, whose bond- 
age prevents them from visiting their native shores 
to lay their complaints before their friends and the 
government who owes them emancipation. In their 
present situation they have no hopes either for this 
world or for the world to come. They are beyond 
the reach of all consolation, unless God is pleased in 
his mercy to ^vrest them by death from the chains of 
their oj^pressors. 

How can we be christians or friends of humanity, 
and not plead and contend for their cause ? I am 



11 

ready to say in the words of Christ on another occa- 
sion, '''He that hath no swordy let him sell his garment 
and buy one.''' 

It is cause for deep humiliation that so many 
thousands who have as much right to protection as 
ourselves, have been forced into slavery and hopeless 
ruin, and that there are so many who are consenting 
to the sin. Had we been united in support of the 
government, these evils would not have existed. 
Foreign nations ever were and will be ready to take 
advantage of our divisions. They will try every 
machination to kindle among us a civil war, and to 
establish here their own power. Finding that a great 
portion of the people will not sacrifice their present 
private interests for the cause of justice, for the rights 
of a class of our citizens, they will persist in their 
wicked practises, and the evils of which we complain 
will be likely to be prolonged and aggravated. 
These are judgments which threaten us for our di- 
vided state as u nation. 

Though we have some causes for humiliation this 
day, we are in the possession and enjoyment of nu- 
merous blessinn-s which call us to adore eternal 
Providence. There arc very few if any in our 
country who cannot obtain a comfortable subsistence. 
There are none whose blessings do not very far ex- 
ceed their duties. As a Nation, as a State, as indi- 
viduals, we have heretofore been generally blest with 
an uncommon share of prosperity. Wc have enjoyed 



12 

a licritii[(e eminently worthy to be called the heritage 
of the servants of the Lord. We have been fed with 
l)rcad, and with every kind of luxury to the full. 
We have had eminent advantages to acquire knowl- 
edge for a number of years ; we have had the aid of 
rcliji-ious institutions; our liberties at home and our 
rights of conscience have been exercised with great 
freedom. 

And may it not be a serious question whether our 
prosperity has not been too great to be continued, 
lest we should be led into such excesses as are in- 
consistent with the political health of the nation, and 
are dangerous to all the obligations of piety and vir- 
tue ? We have reason to lament the propensity of our 
nature to degeneracy, which forbids the enjoyment 
of the unbounded goodness of God. Let us this 
day review our conduct as individuals, and consider 
wherem we have erred in using the blessings of 
providence, and the advantages and liberties with 
which wc have been favored. This is a favorable 
opportunitv to commence a reformation, that will be 
unspeakably happy to our friends and glorious to 
ourselves. 

Let us this day review our conduct as citizens, 
and consider the principles on which wc have acted, 
lias it been our motive to maintain the rights of 
those citizens who arc held in slavery and to procure 
their redemption, and to cause the riglus of property 
to be respected on the ocean, or have wc been gov- 
erned bv selfishness, by the cravings of avarice? 



13 

That must l)e a hard and wretched heart that will 
voluntarily consent to the slavery of thousands of his 
fellow-citizens, and to the ruin of the property of 
ten times as many more, rather than bear the reduc- 
tion of his own gains for a few years. The people 
to whom I have the happiness to speak, with joy I 
trust are not of this description. 

If such unanimity pervaded the whole nation, soon 
would the wretched enslaved Americans escape from 
their bondage, and again embrace those friends, 
from whom they were torn by unrelenting cruelty. 
To your patriotic and virtuous exertions, my hearers, 
add your fervent prayers to heaven for your country's 
salvation, honor, and happiness. Let the brave 
kindle the latent fire of patriotism derived from their 
ancestors, and say one to another, *' Be of good 
courage, and let us play the men, for our people and 
for the cities of our God ; and the Lord do that 
which seemeth him good." 

*' No weapon that is formed against thee shall pros- 
per, and every tongue that shall rise against thee in 
judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage 
of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness 
is of me, saith the Lord." 

This is not to be considered as a promise of God 
to his people that they should meet no misfortunes, 
that their enemies should not in any meabure injure 
and afflict them. Such uninterrupted prosperity and 
undisturbed enjoyment of civil rights and liberties are 



u 

not to be expected in our present imperfect state. 
But the extent of the promise of the text is, No wea- 
pon that is formed against you shall so far prosper as 
to defeat the cause you maintain, and essentially de- 
stroy the object of your hopes. 

Although our country has experienced some ad- 
verse events, in a general view her cause stands un- 
moved. In one instance it appears that the govern- 
ment were deceived, and had misplaced their confi- 
dence in a commander of an important station. J5ut 
there has been no evidence of want of bravery in the 
troops. The government have not had the means 
afforded them to raise an army sufficient to accom- 
plish any important object. The resources of the 
country have not yet been called into action. The 
strength of the nation has not yet been tried. It ap- 
pears to have been the general expectation, till lately, 
especially of the government, that our greatest exer- 
tions would be unnecessary, and they have still been 
proposing measures of peace. On the land, the wea- 
pon formed against us has given the country some 
mortifying wounds, but perhaps no more than was 
necessary to rouse the spirit of the people into its 
native majesty. 

On the sea, the success of our cause has exceed- 
ed the highest expectations of the most sanguine. 

The heroes of the most splendid fame seldom if 
ever won prouder laurels. Whilst they have dealt 
destruction on the enemy, Omnipotence has 



15 

been their shield. The weapon of the enemy has not 
been permitted to prosper. 

Some of our defenceless citizens have met the ca- 
lamities unavoidably incident to a state of war ; but 
the advantage is greatly on the side of our country, 
as it relates to the maratime warfare. Providence 
has displayed very signal and remarkable interposi- 
tions in oar favor, where they were generally least 
expected. No defeats could have been so humili- 
ating to the enemy as those they have met on the 
ocean. Their power there is the dread of nations, 
and the scourge of the world. Their proudest 
weapon has been repeatedly broken. " The right 
hand of the Lord is exalted ; the right hand of the 
Lord doeth valiantly." " They compass us about 
like bees ; they shall be quenched as the fire of 
thorns : for in the name of the Lord we will destroy 
them.*" 

From the nature of the cause in which the nation 
is engaged, I have confidence that no weapon formed 
against us will be permitted to prosper. The gov- 
ernment have lately provided means to prosecute 
measures, which I trust will be severely felt by the 
enemy, or will convince them, that the contested 
point will not be yielded. It being not for an in- 
crease of power, not to oppress mankind, but to 
secure the rights and liberties of oue 

BEETHREN ON THE OCEAN, that WC COntCnd, 

• Psalm cxTiii. 12. 



16 

we have much reason to hope that heaven will pros- 
per our cause. It is in the defence of essential 
rights that we are engaged, or in vain should we 
look for success. 

But success is not to be expected without duty. 
The government must be faithful to theirs, and the 
citizens must be faithful to theirs. They must act 
in concert, or the hopes of both are lost. 

Can we better improve a few moments than in 
inquiring what duties the state of our public affairs 
demands of the people ? If the cause, in which the 
nation is engaged, be a righteous cause, success is 
not to be expected, unless the citizens are faithful 
to their dutv. 

No government can succeed well without the 
support of the citizens. The administration of gov- 
ernment requires great talents, great industry and 
fidelity in a time of peace. But it is much more 
arduous in a time of war. Let those who find fault 
with the government consider the embarrassments 
arising from opposition. Let heads of families con- 
sidor the difficulty of managing their affliirs well, 
when they are perplexed with refractory members. 
Can the house builder succeed well, when his em- 
ployer docs not afford necessary materials, and when 
he is continually thwarting his plans, and obstructing 
the work in its progress ? What artificer can execute 
a work well, when unfaithful and disaffected persons 
arc continually disobeying his directions? Who 



17 

can iiuvigalc a ship across the tempestuous ocean, 
unless liis orders are punctually obeyed by the crew ? 
Who can administer tlie government with tlie best 
success, when its laws are continually violated, and 
its plans are frustrated ? Let all the citizens aid the 
measures of the general government, and let the cor- 
rectness of them be proved i)y experiment. If then 
they fail, place others at the helm. Those who act 
in opposition to the general government not only 
embarrass the rulers, but they act against their own 
interest, because all obstructions are prolonging the 
contest. I think this nation never will yield the great 
point for which they arc now contending. If some 
of the States are arrayed in opposition to the gov- 
ernment, this will only cause greater delay, expense, 
and misfortune to a considerable portion of the citi- 
zens, and not ultimately answer any valuable purpose 
to the country. 

Therefore the duty of the good citizen seems to 
be this. Thouf2:h the £r<-'iieral administration be not 
of his choice, he observes all the laws, he aids in the 
execution of their plans, to try the virtue of them, 
and if ihey prove erroneous, he has a constitutional 
remedy. This appears to me the only course that a 
truly cliristian patriot can eonsistendy pursue. It is 
mv firm belli, f that it is the dutv of every ijood citi- 
zen to yield to the will of the people, us decided by 
a majority throughout the Union, so far as relates to 
o 



J8 

the complete execution of all the laws made by their 
Representatives. 

The providence of God has kindly placed us 
imder a government far the happiest in the world. 
We know nothing about the public calamities which 
other nations experience. We are not crowned with 
so many great and precious blessings without owing 
correspondent duties towards God and our country. 
The promise that no weapon formed against us shall 
prosper, cannot be considered applicable to us any 
further than we are faithful to the principles and 
conditions on which it was granted. No great at- 
t:;inment is to be expected without duty and perhaps 
great sacrifices. 

All classes of honest people with whom I am ac- 
quainted ardently desire an honorable peace. But 
how is this to be obtained ? By opposition to the 
general government ? If they are defeated in their 
exertions, we must take such a peace as the enemy 
with the savage tribes are pleased to give us. Must 
we abandon the essential principles of justice to ob- 
tain peace ? Yielding in one or two points will not 
satisfy our enemies. There will be no end to their 
demands until we have made an unconditional sur- 
render of all that we hold dear and sacred. iNIore 
nations than one Mill be claiming a share in tlic spoils, 
and our doom must be wretched beyond all con- 
ception. No, I trust the general principles and at- 



19 

tachments of tlic people of this country are not yet 
become so degenerate, so lost to all sacred obliga- 
tions, as to abandon her cause. 

The claims of the government are so just and 
reasonable, that I cannot resist the hope that they 
will be allowed, and that a termination of hostilities 
is not far distant. Such an era would be happy, and 
would be an occasion for the most thankful acknowl- 
edgments to the supreme Arbiter of events. Should 
not this hope be soon realized, I think we have much 
reason to believe that for a year to come the conflict 
will be very severe. In this last alternative may wc 
strengthen each other's hands and encourage each 
other's hearts. 

Surely if we look back to the means which this 
people possessed in the revolution, to defend and 
maintain their rights, and are faithful to ourselves, 
we cannot doubt as to the result, unless we are 
abandoned of heaven for our wickedness. There is 
no want in this country of resources of strength, of 
talents, or of bravery, to defeat our enemies. There 
is no want, but of virtue and patriotism. 

There is one class of people whose thirst is so 
great to get the reins of power into their own hands, 
that they inwardly rejoice in every calamity that 
tends to produce a change of public opinion in their 
favor. This class is numerous, and their influencr 
is great. They deceive many. 



20 

There is anoihcr class who are so much devoted 
to the god of avarice, that they are impatient under 
any state of things that interferes with their imme- 
diate interest. Had the generation who are now 
principally gone oft' the stage of action, been of this 
description, this country would now have been in- 
volved in ail the wars and calamities of Europe. 
The true and honest patriot will be reiidy to sacrifice 
his personal interest for the security of the rights of 
liis country and of his posierity. Our lathers were 
careful and faithful to see that we should be born 
free, and if we have not sufficient virtue to maintain 
our birth- right, no ignominy can be too great for us. 

There is another class of people who do not think 
for themselves, but give themselves toTthe guidance 
of those who will make merchandize of them. If 
there were any of these classes within the reach of 
my voice, I would conjure them by all that is sacred, 
to lay aside, as far as possible, all private interests 
and motives of ambition, for the good of their 
country, for the benefit of posterity. 

There is still another class of peojile opposed t^' 
the war, because they consider it a great calamity ; 
and from benevolent feelings they dread the conse- 
quences. But I would ask them to extend their 
benevolent feelings towards the many thousands who 
have been for years past, and still arc in a condition 
the most deplorable. If they are not rescued, and 
the evil is not removed, many thousands more must 



meet the same fate. Many liavc lost their heahh, 
tlielr limbs, and their lives. Many have been dis- 
abled and reduced, and then abandoned to despair. 
Many are robbed of their service durin^; a number 
of the best years of life, and their families are left to 
bewail their unhappy doom. 

We have no right for the sake of peace to leave 
them to such sufferings of injustice and cruelty. It 
is inhumanity ; it is cruelty the most deliberate. If 
we consent to the violence done to our fellow-citi- 
zens, when we have power to hnmn; their oppressors 
to justice, we become partakers in the guilt of man- 
stealing, and merit the execration of the unhappy- 
sufferers, and the indignation of the Almighty. 

When the "Byrians and Zidonians had aljused the 
liberties of the Jews, when they had disposed of them 
by lot, when they had given a Jewish boy for the hire 
of a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might 
drink to excess, God declared against them by the 
prophet Joel the most tremendous judgments. 
These wrongs were afterwards avenged against the 
Tivrians, for Alexander sold thirty thousand of them 
for slaves. Not only the nations who abuse our cit- 
izens and enslave them will be punislied, but they 
who justify them will partake of the awful retribution 
of God. Therefore may we not be accessory, in 
any wa)', to continue or to justify the wrongs which 
are committed upon our own citizens. 

Finally, Let it oe our hearts desire and prayer to 
God "that He would preserve us, in the course of 



22 

the ensuing- year, from domestic violence and foreign 
invasion ; from scarcity of bread ; from coniagious 
sickness and untimely death — That He would pros- 
per the means of education, and that His eyes may 
be upon us for good from the beginning to the end 
of the year — That the Heavens may give their dew, 
and the earth yield her increase ; and that God, even 
our God, may bless us." 

May you steadily pursue such a course of con- 
duct, in your several callings as will best serve the 
cause of your common country. Do not be carried 
away from your duty by the slight and cunning 
craftiness of men, but with unprejudiced minds in- 
quire devoutly before God, What is right ? 

On this occasion I felt it to be my duty to 
express my sentiments on some important points 
widi plainness, that you may not err through 
the want of honesty and fidelity on my part. My 
most earnest concern is to strengthen and confirm 
your resolutions to do your duty towards God, your 
country, your families, and yourselves. But what- 
ever sentiments you entertain, indulge no bitterness, 
and deny not to others the right of opinion. Be 
strong in understanding, and firm in heart, but not 
malicious or unfair. Should any of you be called to 
take a more active part in the cause of your country, 
go not in your own strength alone, but in the power 
of the Lord of hosts. *'Be strong and of a good 
courage. And the Lord, he it is that doth go before 



!83 

you ; he will be with you, he will not fail you, 
neither forsake you : fear not neither be dismayed." 

If the blessings of peace should be denied us, may 
not the blessings of plenty be withheld. Let us be 
faithful and humble in our duty, and may the joyful 
hopes of salvation through the Redeemer, support 
us in every trial, which infinite wisdom sees fit to 
appoint, until the season of our probation be passed 
away, and our spirits may be permitted to join the 
choir of celestial beings in raptures of everlasting 
love and praise. May our prayers this day for the 
salvation of our beloved country be answered with 
the blessings of honorable peace and perpetual pros- 
perity. 

But if the hearts of our enemies should continue 
to be hardened, to be filled with the gall of bitterness, 
and to glory in the bonds of iniquity, I exhort you 
by the blood of those immortal patriots who sacri- 
ficed their lives on the altar of their country to pur- 
chase your liberty, and whom heaven, we trust, has 
crowned with glory for their fidelity, to be true to 
the same principles. 

If the cause be lost in which the country is now 
engaged, this rising nation with the fairest, brightest 
prospects, I fear will become the ignominious prey of 
foreigners, the contempt of the world, and the out- 
cast of heaven. Let us deplore that weakness, that 
insUibility, that depravity of the human character 



24 

through which men are enticed by corrupt influence, 
by forci|jn partialities of any kind to sacrifice their 
country's lionor and felicity. 

Let your patriotism be founded in an unshaken love 
and confidence towards the great, the immutable 
Jehovak, and in the principles of divine rectitude; 
and may your conduct in the present contest for your 
country's independence be worthy to be held in cver- 
lastinj:^ remembrance. 



'^^ 



% ^ ^ 



